This blog is run by RiRi, a Japan-based blogger who aims to enrich daily life by traveling and exploring different lifestyles both in Japan and abroad, all while capturing moments through photos and videos.
In my last post, I shared some great lunch spots in Naha. This time, I’ll be focusing on how to casually enjoy a night in Naha with themes of staying, eating, and drinking. I’ll suggest ways to spend your time from check-in at your hotel, so use this as a reference for your Okinawa trip
【STAY】HOTEL SUNSUI NAHA
HOTEL SANSUI NAHA 2-25-1 Tsuji, Naha City, Okinawa 900-0037
If you’re looking for a hotel in Naha City, Okinawa, that costs under 10,000 yen per night, this place is perfect for you. The biggest appeal of this hotel is its incredible value for the price.
Firstly, guests can enjoy the natural hot springs in the hotel for free. With indoor baths, open-air baths, and saunas, you can fully relax and take care of any travel or everyday fatigue.
On the rooftop, there’s a bar and a pool. There’s also a pool on the second floor of the hotel, so it doesn’t get too crowded in the evening. I was able to relax and enjoy a beautiful sunset while watching the ferry cross the sea.
Enjoy Okinawa while sipping a tropical cocktail at the sky bar.
This time, I stayed in a twin room with a friend.
The room was simple but very clean. If you prefer a more spacious room, consider the suite with an open-air hot tub.
Just a 3-minute walk from the hotel, you’ll find Naminoue Shrine, a famous spot for matchmaking, and Naminoue Beach, the only beach in Naha. The airport is also easily accessible.
While you can walk, it’s a bit far from Kokusai Street, so taking a taxi is the best option.
The hotel has parking for 42 cars (1,500 yen per night), but you can’t reserve in advance. If the parking is full, the staff can guide you to nearby parking lots.
By the way, the Naminoue hot spring takes its last entry at 11:00 PM, so you can enjoy a relaxed dinner and then come back to the hotel for a nice soak.
Now, let’s head out and explore Naha’s nightlife!
【EAT】 Casual French restaurant Brasserie Esprit in Naha
Brasserie Esprit 2-3-9 Makishi, Naha City, Okinawa, 2nd Floor, Japan
I had a great time visiting France in the spring, so I decided to book a French restaurant here in Naha. It’s a more casual and laid-back spot, but still has a mature and comfortable atmosphere. A really pleasant place to enjoy some casual French cuisine.
Since we love wine, we toasted with a German Pinot Noir.
The quiche in the top right photo is amazing!
I usually don’t like quiche that’s too hard, but this one is so smooth and has such a great texture. It’s not sweet, but it’s almost like cake.
Best quiche of the year for sure.
They have a wide selection of wines, and we got to pick our favorites directly.
The spacious interior also makes it feel really comfortable without any sense of being cramped.
With places like this, I definitely need to visit Naha more often!
【Drink】 Mixology bar ALCHEMIST
Mixology bar ALCHEMIST 2-10-19 Kumoji, Naha City, Okinawa 900-0015, Japan
It’s rare for us, but we decided to go out for cocktails.
We heard they serve amazing cocktails, so we came to check it out.
This place is Okinawa’s first mixology cocktail bar. They craft and serve cocktails with a lot of care, using things like liquid nitrogen, herbs, spices, and smoke.
As you can see from their website, they mix a variety of ingredients, including Okinawan plants like “gettou” (shell ginger) with gin and tonic. Gettou is known for its refreshing and cool aroma, often used in aromatherapy and skincare, and its essential oil is quite valuable. Combining it with cocktails is really intriguing.
I ordered something quite simple, but there were many stylish cocktails, and it was fun just watching what other customers were ordering.
If I were to describe it in terms of music, I’d say it’s a sophisticated mix for grown-ups.
Right as you enter, there’s a counter area, and in the back, there are more relaxed seating options that would be great for a date. When we went on a weekend night, there were tourists from outside the prefecture. It was easy to strike up conversations and have a good time with other guests.
The owner loves to chat, so we ended up staying longer than planned and getting a bit tipsy.
Eating and drinking our way through Naha, hopping from bar to bar without any fuss.
I can’t wait to explore more of Naha.
